The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission convenes in Annapolis this week for its annual meeting and high on the agenda is the future of rockfish, the beloved species more properly known as striped bass.

Maryland’s latest survey shows relatively paltry numbers of juveniles — scoring a 2 on the “young of year” index where the long-term average is 11. Most troubling of all, this is the sixth straight year of subpar recruitment. At some point, the commission, which has for more than 80 years represented the interests of East Coast states to properly conserve 27 near-shore fish species, including the migratory bass, will have to recommend strong action.

That’s not to suggest the ASMFC and states like Maryland haven’t already made some efforts. This year alone, fishermen faced significant restrictions. Recreational anglers, for example, have been limited to catching one rockfish of legal size per day. But it’s clear tougher action is needed. And that must include the possibility of once again imposing a moratorium on the harvest of rockfish, as Maryland did between 1985 and 1989. That approach helped save the species, particularly adult females, but couldn’t fully protect the fish from broader problems of pollution, loss of habitat, climate change and invasive predators such as blue catfish.

We don’t relish the thought of a second moratorium and sympathize with our fellow Marylanders who make a living from the species, whether as watermen or charter boat captains or seafood dealers, not to mention all the recreational fishermen who go angling for them on weekends. And we would certainly expect any such action to be coordinated with neighboring Virginia and with surrounding states. The Chesapeake Bay may be a nursery for striped bass but, as an anadromous species, they are found from the Gulf of Mexico to coastal Canada.

Yet we can’t change poor land-use decisions or climate-driven weather changes, or even failing septic tanks or excess stormwater runoff, with a stroke of the pen. We can, however, properly protect stripers from overfishing. And that needs to be the priority until we see evidence that the species has been restored to its former abundance. Life in Maryland would not be the same without our beloved state fish.